4 years...

I was just re-reading a few of my posts labeled signs and realized that the two stories I told were about things that happened 4 years apart. For some amusement, I decided to look back to see if I posted anything 4 years ago today. I still believe in signs after all, and maybe there would be some significance in the post. And you know what? There was a little gem from December 14, 2010. Tuesday morning reflections was the perfect message to reaffirm that signs do exist, that small miracles happen every day, and that life is beautiful.

A year living on the Central Coast...

The first few months was an adjustment period, being in this strange and beautiful new land. I couldn't quite get used to it and felt more like a visitor than one who belonged here. I was lost without my maps app. It was soooo cold all the time. I still missed my old job and volunteers. And I only had one friend close by!

Okay, there were many positive sides to being here too. It just took some time for me to adjust, to be able to navigate around town on my own, to embrace the cold and enjoy the quieter lifestyle. And then…the feeling weaved its way and settled in ever so slowly, and it finally felt like home.

A year (gasp! already?!) has passed, and I have come to adore this new place that I call home. I feel truly blessed as I sit and reflect on all the beauty, abundance, and amazing experiences that have filled my life over the past 12 months...

We live in a cute and cozy place on a quiet street in a quaint neighborhood--it's in the perfect location, within walking distance to downtown, Sean's work, our local state beach, and the walking/bike path along the bay. The kitchen is spacious and adorable, we often see deer in the driveway, and I sometimes hear sea lions from our living room. Such a pleasant difference from the noise, hustle bustle, and urban-ness of Southern California. I love the calm quietness and that I can see stars at night...

I get to enjoy breathtaking scenery every single day...

I've been able to experience and volunteer for some AWESOME things, like counting monarch butterflies, helping tag them for research, and teaching school groups about them. The tide pooling down the street from our house is great, and I've found some pretty cool creatures. I also get to help rehabilitate rescued sea otters, interpret about them at public events, and learn how otters in the wild are tracked for research. Sean and I have also volunteered at Esalen Institute's farm and garden a couple of times, it's so rewarding being outside overlooking the Pacific, doing physical tasks and working the earth.

I've been able to craft more often. I get to try new recipes, to bake and whip up home cooked meals almost daily. And I've been reading more lately, it's so nice to reconnect with my love for reading.

I'm so happy to have Big Sur as our stomping grounds. It's only an hour away and is easily accessible for camping, hiking, explorations and adventures... 

This day, last year...

I cried many times and said goodbye to so many people and things. Coworkers, volunteers, and friends dear to my heart. A place I started coming to during my high school years, when I was seventeen, and where I continued to volunteer and work at for the next 15 years. Almost half of my life was spent there, so many memories, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye to it all. I took this departing photo of my desk (the cleanest it had ever been!) just as a little reminder of the hard work that I put into a job and place I loved so much. This day last year, I closed one chapter of my life and started a whole new story...

Today, one year later, I was blessed with this gorgeous sunrise on a morning walk with an old friend. 

And I got to meet Bee, an African blackfooted penguin.

It's a very different life from the one I led a year ago, but such a wonderful one indeed. I'm grateful for it every single day! 

Morning Stroll

New discoveries in the neighborhood. 

Gratitude

Beautiful sunset walks.

Quote-o-the-day

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” ~Alan Watts

Home Sweet Home

Reasons I love my new home on the Central Coast...

2. Monarch butterflies flutter around in our yard.

Home Sweet Home

Reasons I love my new home on the Central Coast...

1. I can hear sea lions from my living room. Yes, from my living room. While sitting here typing this, I can hear them barking in the distance. How cool is that?